Lightning Sign LW Ondrej Palat to Entry-Level Contract

NORFOLK, Va. – The Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL parent club of the Norfolk Admirals, have signed left wing Ondrej Palat (AHN-dray pah-LAHT) to a three-year, entry-level contract today, Lightning Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman announced.

Palat, 6-foot, 174-pounds, attended his first Lightning training camp this season. He was assigned to the Norfolk Admirals on September 25. Palat did not appear in any preseason games with Tampa Bay.

A native of Frydek-Mistek, Czech Republic, Palat played in 61 games with the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season. He registered 39 goals and 96 points, ranking him tied for fourth in the league in scoring. Palat led the Voltigeurs in goals, power play goals (15) and was tied for the team lead in points.

He was drafted by the Lightning in the seventh round, 208th overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

The Admirals will return to the ice on Friday night as the Hershey Bears make their season debut at Norfolk Scope Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Friday's matchup against the Bears will be the first Military Appreciation Night at Norfolk Scope. Red Level tickets (normally $17.50 on game nights) will be available for just $9 at the Norfolk Scope Box Office for all active or retired military, their dependants and reservists with valid military identification.

Groups of 15 or more can purchase their Red Level tickets for just $8 by contacting the Admirals Group Sales Office via phone at (757) 640-1212 ext. 23 or ext. 24 or via email at charlie@norfolkadmirals.com or smcintosh@norfolkadmirals.com.

Individual tickets are now on sale for all Admirals regular season home games at the Scope Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000 and online at ticketmaster.com.